Centrifugal machine



April 27, 1937. J. s. PECKER 2,073,273

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...it .arfivllfffff/f V ATTORNEY April 27, 1937. J. s. PEcKl-:R

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Jan. 30. 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R 'Y BY Y y ATTORNEY April 27, 1937.

J. S. PECKER GENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mv N on der K im

ATToRNEY April 27, 1937. J. s. PECKER 2,078,273

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 $2 (89 Y (8B 95a ,i 9b

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ATTORNEY April 27, 1937. 1 s, PECKER 2,078,273

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N2 f /2/ [06 Q /05 39 I l ff Il? E l 6 i l |Nv NToR wat LW A u Q Y fr ATTORNEY April 27, 1937. J. s. PECKER CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Jan. C50, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Joseph S. Pecker, Philadelphia, Pa.,

American Centrifugal Corporation,

assignor to New York,

59 Claims.

The invention relates to a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from solids.

One object of the present invention is to provide in a centrifugal separating machine having a rotatable basket a unitary device consisting of Ya combined means for feeding the material to the basket and to remove solid material from the basket.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotary centrifugal basket having a substantially flat horizontal bottom provided at its inner portion with radial pronouncely flared discharge openings which progress gradually in cross sectional area downwardly from the upper face of the bottom of the basket for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of dewatered solids.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a centrifugal separating machine inciuding a rotatable basket equipped with a solids removing means adapted to swing inwardly and outwardly toward and away from the side walls of the basket to gradually work through the wall of solids on the peripheral wall of the basket to remove the wall of solids gradually for discharge from the basket and which solids removing means is actuated by an operating means including a screw and a motor operatively connected to the screw and coacting with relation to the solids removing means to positively lock and hold the solids removing means against acceleration or deceleration in the direction of its travel incident to impact thereof with the solids during operation of removal of the solids from the basket, there being a brake mechanism associated with said motor which is operable to prevent any lag in the motor such as would cause an increased movement of the solids removing means when the latter is periodically operated in its inward and outward movements.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for improving the dewatering method by equipping the `machine with a horizontally movable means operable at or near the end of the purging period for breaking the adhesion between the dewatered solids andthe top of the rotary centrifugal basket adjacent the seepage openings for opening up a passage to the said seepage openings and thereby enabling the eflluent to be completely discharged from the basket by the centrifuging irrespective of the thickness of the dewatered solids impacted on the walls of the basket so that the dewatered sludge will be prevented from forming a barrier between the interior of the basket and the seepage openings (Cl. 21o-63) and interfering with the complete drainage of the basket so that no liquid will be left in the basket at the completion of the draining or purging operation.

Another object of the invention is to improve the means for feeding the sewage or other material to the centrifugal machine and to provide means for controlling and varying the volume of material fed in a predetermined period of time whereby clogging of the machine will be eliminated and a definite means afforded for determining the exact amount of sewage charged into the machine in any specific period of time.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of the Scrapers by providing the same with spaced cutting teeth to cut and shred dewatered solids from the walls of the centrifugal basket and provided at the spaces or intervals between the cutting teeth with cutting edges adapted also to cut the material and prevent fibrous material from lodging between the spaced cutting teeth and clogging the cutters or Scrapers.

It is also an object of the invention, where two or more Scrapers or the like are employed in a. centrifugal separating machine. provision is made for an accurate adjustment of the Scrapers to compensate for any discrepancy in grinding or machining the sera-pers so that when they are assembled in the centrifugal machine their working edges will be located exactly the same radial distance from their centers of rotation so as to distribute the load equally between the scrapers in order thatA one cutter will be prevented from preceding the other in its advance into the material and so that there will be no liability of one of the Scrapers being subjected to all of the load incident to removing the dewatered solids from the walls of the centrifugal basket.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the Scrapers so that after the material is cut, shredded or removed from the walls of the centrifugal basket by the Scrapers they will be relieved suddenly of the friction or adhesion of the material on the same and the material thereby caused to break away at the back edge of the Scrapers and tend to dropy by gravity to the bottom of the basket.

. Another object of the invention is to provide means for operating the cutters or Scrapers to move the same outwardly and inwardly and to enable the same to be accurately moved the required or desired distance particularly in the intermittent operation of the cutters or Scrapers. It has been found that when operating the cutters or Scrapers by the intermittent method or the method of actuating the cutters or scrapers perlodically, the lag in the cutter or scraper operating motor, due to the high ratio of the gearing, may cause the cutters or scrapers to overrun beyond the point where the current is cut off and it is an object of the invention to overcome this objection and stop the cutters or scrapers at the point at which the current is cut on from the motor which actuates the cutters or Scrapers.

l A further object of the invention is to shape the Scrapers particularly at the lower portion directly adjacent to the bottom of the basket so that when the scraper is completely closed its contour will substantially coincide with the shape of the coni centric sludge discharge openings in the bottom of the basket.

Another object of the invention is to so form the inside surface of the scraper as to trap and deflect the cut material as the centrifugal force l of the revolving basket tends to swerve the material radially and outwardly.

Another object of the invention is to shape the scraper particularly the portion directly adjacent the scraping or cutting edge so that when the scraper is swung outwardly to the limit of its opening movement the exterior shape of the scraper will coincide with the curvature of the side walls of the basket and thereby cause the rotating basket to relieve the scraper of such l material as may have become entwined about the cutting teeth.

It is also an object of the invention to equip the scraper or other solids removing means with means operating substantially simultaneously with the latter to remove all adhering sludge from the basket shaft and the adjacent parts whereby substantially the entire basket will be cleaned of dewatered sludge by the sludge removing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a t horizontally-swing scraper having a sludge feed pipe carried to and from its discharging position by the horizontal swinging movement of the scraper, the scraper and the feed pipe for feeding the sludge being movable on a common center and so constructed as to permit the use of single or multiple scrapers and inlet feeding pipes wherein all the feeding pipes may have a common or an individual source of material supply.

With these and other objects in view, the lnvention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a centrifugal separating machine constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the arrangement of the combined feeding and cutting unit, parts being omitted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the rotary centrifugal basket and one of the cutters or Scrapers and showing the hollow scraper carrying shaft which constitutes a portion of the feed pipe.

70 Figure 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and showing both of the Scrapers or cutters.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal sec- 75 tional view of one of the scrapers and showing a portion of the bottom of the rotary centrifugal basket.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrating the mechanism for operating the scrapers.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the auxiliary device for cutting dewatered solids adjacent the seepage openings to permit the efliuent to pass from the interior of the basket to the seepage openings.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through the measuring valve.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the adjustable pin oi' the operating arm of the scraper.

Figure 11 is a, detail view illustrating the arrangement oi the horizontal tcp knife of the scrapers.

Figure 12 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the feed pipe showing the branches thereof.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of one of the Scrapers.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view through a portion of the rotary centrifugal basket showing one of the Scrapers partly in section.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 13.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the casing of the centrifugal separating machine is constructed substantially the same as that disclosed in my copending application filed February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,390, and comprises in its construction a bottom section I, a lower substantially cylindrical intermediate section 2, an upper intermediate section 3 and a top or cap section (not shown) designed to be mounted on the upper intermediate section 3. The bottom section I which is provided with an integral base 4 is cylindrical to receive and fit the intermediate cylindrical section 2 and it is provided with an annular etliuent trough 5 which is arranged to receive liquid separated from solids by the centrifugal action of the rotary centrifugal basket B arranged within the cylindrical sections I and 2 of the casing of the machine and located directly below the upper intermediate section as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The upper intermediate section constitutes a supporting member and preferably consists of a hollow annular casting as fully shown and described in the aforesaid applicatlon.

The centrifugal basket 6 consists of a cylindrical body portion, a circular bottom plate 'I and an annular top plate 8, the top and bottom plates being bolted or otherwise secured to the cylindrical body of the basket. The cylindrical body of the basket forms imperforate walls and the circular bottom plate which is preferably tapered in thickness, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, is provided with a central vertical hub 9 and it has approximately quadrantshaped radially arranged openings III located between the hub 9 and an imperforate outer annular portion II. The Openings III which are provided in the basket for discharging dewatered solids are flared downwardly and tapered upwardlyr and provided with inner and outer inclined walls I2 and I3. 'I'he downward flare of the sludge discharge openings facilitates the dis- 5 charge of the dewatered solids from the basket and tends to prevent clogging of the bottom openings III.

The top plate B of the centrifugal basket is of annular form to provide a central opening Il l and it is provided at its lower face with a recess I in which is arranged a seepage plate I6 suitably secured to the top plate and having its marginal portion clamped between the top plate and the upper edge of the side walls of the i5 centrifugal basket. The top plate is provided in the recess with effluent discharge channels I1 and the seepage plate has openings preferably consisting of slots I8 communicating with the channels for permitting the effluent separated from the solids by the centrifugal action of the rotary basket to pass into the channels I1 and discharge at the outer ends thereof.

The eilluent discharge channels are provided at their outer ends with outlets I9 located beyond the imperforate walls of the basket and extending downwardly below the upper edges of the same and tapered and flared as shown. The top plate is preferably provided at the inner ends of the eflluent discharge channels with reduced air inlet openings 2li. The top plate and the seepage plate are preferably constructed in accordance with the invention shown, described and claimed in my application filed November 19, 1934, Serial No. 753,736, and no claim is made to this feature of the machine in the present application.

The hub of the bottom plate of the basket is mounted on a central vertical shaft 2| and is suitably fixed to the same adjacent the lower end thereof which is mounted in suitable bearings 22 4and which is designed to be connected with high and low speed motors 23 and 24 as fully shown and described in my said application led February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,390. As explained in the said application, the high speed motor is designed for rotating the basket at a high purging speed and the low speed motor is operated for rotating the centrifugal basket at a low cleaning speed. As the means for connecting the high and low speed motors with the lower end of the central vertical shaft 2| does not constitute aportion of the present invention and as such means is fully described in my copending application flied February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,390, illustration and description of the said means are omitted from the present application to simplify Ithe illustration and description of the improvements of the present invention.

The upper end oi' the central vertical shaft is so mounted in an upper bearing 25 which is received within the lower portion of a central opening 26 in the supporting member 3 of the casing. The supporting member 3 is provided at the central opening 26 with an annular enlargement 21 extending below the lower face of the supporting member 3 and forming an extension of the central opening 26 which is provided with an interior annular flange 2l which forms an abutment for the top of the casing of the upper bearing 25 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The supporting member 3 of the casl ing of the machine is provided at opposite sides of the central opening 2B with integral verticallydisposed hubs 29 depending from the supporting member 3 and extending into theuipper portion of the centrifugal basket and having mounted within them hollow vertical shafts 30 which carry curved Scrapers 3l and constituting branches of a feed pipe 32.

The sewage or other material to be dewatered is fed to the centrifugal machine through the feed pipe 32 which is provided with a measuring valve 33. 'I'he feed pipe 32 is provided below the measuring valve with a substantially Y-shaped branch or section 34 which divides the feed pipe into twin feed portions extending to opposite sides of the machine. The branches or twin feed portions 35 are machined and fitted into and telescoped with the upper ends of the hollow shafts 30 to provide effective rotatable joint and communicating connections without interfering with the rotary movement of the hollow shafts in the operation of the curved Scrapers. This construction obviates flexible and ineffective connections and it permits the feed pipe 32 with the measuring valve 33 and its lower Y-shaped section 34 to be removed from the hollow shafts as a unit and thereby greatly facilitate servicing a centrifugal machine but the feed pipe may be supported or braced from the supporting member 3 by any suitable means as will be readily understood. The sides of the Y-shaped section arc provided at the upper ends of the vertical twin portions 35 with interiorly-threaded flanged openings 36 which are normally closed by screw plugs 31 adapted to be removed to afford access to the twin branches or portions of the feed pipe for injecting steam, air under pressure. chemicals or inert material into the branches of the feed pipe for mechanical agitation or chemical treatment of the material operated on by the machine. The. removable screw; plugs 31 constitute clean-out fittings for affording ready access to the combined hollow shafts and feed pipes.

The Scrapers which are pivotally mounted for horizontal outward and inward swinging movement toward and from the side walls of the basket are located at diametrically opposite points and are provided with vertical tubular hub portions 38 which receive the lower portions of the hollow vertical shafts and which are fixed to the same by keys 39 or other suitable means. The Scrapers are provided at the lower ends of the tubular hub portions with downwardly and Aoutwardly inclined discharge nozzles l0 which are flattened at their outer ends. The discharge nozzles are of a length to extend to the annular imperforate portion of the bottom plate of the centrifugal basket and when the scrapers are at the limit of their inward movement, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the discharge nozzles extend substantially in the direction of rotation of the centrifugal basket.

Each scraper 3| consists of a relatively thin body portion curved horizontally and of substantially arcuate form as clearly illustrated in Hgure 4 of the drawings and when at the limit of its inward movement is arranged substantially concentric with the side walls of the rotary centrifugal basket and substantially coinciding with the outer curved walls of the openings Ill in the bottom of the basket and the said body is provided at the rear end with a substantiallystraight transverse extension 4I which substantially coincides with the side walls of the openings IIl as shown in Figure 14 of the drawings.

The curved body portion of the scraper presents an outer convex face and an inner concave face and the rear extension I which is relatively lll thin and which constitutes a rear wall is disposed approximately radially of the basket when the scraper is at the limit of its inward movement. When the scraper is swung outwardly to its cutting or scraping position as illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings, the rear extension or wing 4| of the scraper is carried inwardly into close proximity to the central vertical shaft 2|, the hub 9 of the basket and the upper bearing 25 thereof for scraping all adhering sludge from the central vertical shaft 2|, the hub and the said upper bearing 25. The inner approximately vertical edge 4| of the extension or wing 4I conforms substantially to the conguration of the vertical shaft 2|, the hub 9 of the bottom plate of the basket and the upper bearing 25 to enable it to scrape from the said parts dewatered sludge adhering to the same. This scraping of the dewatered sludge from the central vertical shaft, the upper bearing and the hub of the bottom plate of the basket occurs simultaneously with the operation of the scrapers in the removal from the walls of the centrifugal basket of the de- Watered sludge impacted thereon. The front end portion 42 of the scraper is vertical and is tapered forwardly and the upper edge 43 of the scraper is horizontal and extends rearwardly from the upper end of the front portion of the scraper and is arranged at an acute angle to the arcuate lower edge of the scraper which slopes inwardly and upwardly from its curved lower edge to its upper edge 43. The upper edge 43 has a straight intermediate portion and is provided with an approximately L-shaped outwardly-offset front portion 44 and a slightly-curved rear portion 45` which is arranged adjacent to and approximately concentric with the central vertical shaft 2| as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The form of the inside surface of the scraper is such that the scraper is adapted to trap and defiect the cut material as the centrifugal force of the revolving basket tends to swerve the material radially and outwardly.

The tapered front portion 42 of the scraper is formed by thickening the scraper at the inner face thereof to provide an angularly disposed inner face 46 to which is detachably secured, by screws or other suitable fastening devices, a vertical blade 41. The vertical blade 41 is provided at intervals with spaced cutting teeth 49 beveled at their outer sides at 49 and the said blade 41 is provided at the intervals or spaces between the cutting teeth 49 with vertical cutting edges 50 formed by beveling the blade 41 at the inner face between the cutting teeth as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The blade 41 and the thickened front portion 42 of the scraper form an abrupt shoulder 5| at the inner or rear vertical edge of the cutting blade 41 so that in cutting from the side walls of the basket the dewatered solids impacted against the same, the abrupt termination of the blade formed by the tapered front portion of the scraper and the rear edge of the blade 41 will cause the partially severed sludge to be suddenly relieved of friction or adhesion on the cutting blade and caused to break away at the back edge of the blade and tend to drop by gravity to the bottom of the basket. The inner concave scraper face, which substantially coincides with the outer Walls of the openings I9, extends upwardly and inwardly at an inclination and overhangs the openings and tends to cause the material cut or shredded from the walls of the basket to drop through the bottom openings Il) thereof andthe substantially-straight material will be emitted and will flow into the basket substantially in the directions indicated by the arrowsat the left-hand side of Figure 2 of the drawings.

The sewage or other material fed to the rotary centrifugal basket by being discharged into the same in substantially the direction of rotation of the basket facilitates or harmonizes with the centrifugal action of the basket, so that there is no liability of any of the material passing through the bottom openings l0 of the basket before being I dewatered. The additional cutting surfaces or portions afforded by the sharp intermediate edges l 5D of the blades 41 prevent fibrous material from lodging between the cutting teeth 4B and tending to clog the cutting action of the Scrapers. This structure tends to produce a self-cleaning blade and obviates to` a great extent the necessity of providing additional means for cleaning the blades as there is little liability of any of the fibrous material accumulating on or between the cutting teeth. The cutting effect of the Scrapers is further increased by top horizontal blades 5| tapered slightly, as clearly illustrated in Figure 11, to conform to the configuration of the top front terminal portion of the scrapers and detachably secured to the same by screws 5| or other suitable fastening devices. Each horizontal top blade is provided with a front side cutting edge 5| 'J and an outer end cutting edge 5|c and the said blades 5| cooperate with the blades 46 in cutting the impacted dewatered solids from the rotary centrifugal basket in the operation of cleaning the same. While the pivoted horizontal blade 8| breaks the adhesion between the compacted solids and the top of the rotary centrifugal basket at the inner portions of the seepage slots, the horizontal scraper blade operates in a similar manner beyond the range of operation of the pivoted blade 9| and after the latter has been swung inwardly to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the imperforate vertical walls of the rotary centrifugal basket may be provided with a friction surface forming a lining 52 and spurs or projections 53, such as are shown, described and claimed in my copending application led October 24, 1934, Serial No. 749,828, to prevent any slippage of the impacted material with respect to the walls of the basket during the cleaning operation.

The hollow vertical shafts 30 extend above the supporting member 3 and have secured to their upper ends operating arms 54 extending horizontally from the upper ends of the hollow shafts and provided at their inner ends with openings 55 to receive the hollow shafts and keyed or otherwise secured to the same. The operating arms 54 have slotted or bifurcated outer end portions 55 and are provided with vertical pins51 which are arranged in bearing openings 58 of slidable blocks 59. The blocks 59, which are slidably mounted in spaced transverse guides 69 of a slidable member 6|, are provided at opposite sides with shims B2 consisting of a plurality of plates which are adapted to be shifted from one side of each slidable block to the other side thereof for changing the position of the bearing opening of the block and the pin 51 with relation to the guides 60. The guides 68 preferably consist of substantially oblong enlargements of the slidable member 6| and they extend transversely thereof and project from the inner side of the same and are provided with oblong openings 63 in which the blocks 59 slide.

In the manufacture of the scrapers and subsequently in the assembly of the cutting blades after grinding, discrepancies in machine work may arise, so that the tips of the cutting teeth on both cutters may not be exactly the same radial distance from the center of rotation of the centrifugal basket. This would cause one cutting blade to precede the other in its advance into the material to be out and therefore all the load of cutting would be taken on by one of the cutting blades. To overcome this possibility the shim plates 62 at opposite sides of the slidable block 59 are provided and the shim plates which may vary in thickness and number are adapted, by their arrangement at one side or the other of the blocks, to enable the tips of the cutting teeth to be positioned exactly the same distance from the center of rotation, so that both cutters will be arranged to cut at the same time. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the shim plates to the slidable block or the shim plates may extend the entire length of the guides and be retained in position by the slidable blocks.

The slidable member, which is mounted in spaced guides 84, consists of a central screw B5 and smooth end sections 66 preferably detachably secured to the ends of the screw. The transverse enlargements which form the guides G are preferably formed integral with the inner ends of the smooth sections 86 and are provided at their opposed sides with sockets 61 in which the ends of the screw 65 are secured by suitable fastening devices BB. The guides 64 are suitably secured to the upper face of the-supporting' member 3 and the worm 65 is engaged by interior screw threads B9 of a screw wheel 1I). The worm wheel 10 is arranged within a suitable sectional casing or housing 1| and it is engaged at its periphery by a worm 12 mounted on a horizontal shaft 13 disposed transversely with relation to the slidable member El and journalled in suitable bearings of the gear casing 1I and having an extended outer portion 14 which is connected by a suitable clutch or coupling 15 with the shaft 16 of an electric motor 11. It has been found when operating the scrapers intermittently or periodically that due to the high gear ratio of the gearing for transmitting motion from the motor to the Scrapers there is a lag in the rotor of the motor which may cause the Scrapers to overrun beyond the point where the current is cut off by the automatic electric control such as is described and claimed in my copending application filed December 26, 1934, Serial No. 759,302. To overcome this the centrifugal separating machine is equipped with a brake 1B which may be of any preferred construction. The brake, which is mounted upon and suitably secured to the supporting member 3 of the casing of the machine, is connected with the shaft 13 at a point beyond the gear casing 1 I.

The brake 1B, which may be operated by any suitable mechanism, in the accompanying drawings is illustrated as connected with the solenoid core 19 of a solenoid coil 81|. The current is applied to the solenoid coil at the proper intervals during the cycle of operations of the centrifugal separating machine and the solenoid is adapted to operate the brake at the proper time for effecting accurate periodical operation of the Scrapers. The motor 11 and the solenoid 80 are mounted on the supporting member 3 of the casing of the.

machine and are located at the outer side of the slidable member BI as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. When the motor 11 is operated motion will be transmitted through the worm gearing to the slidable member 8i and the latter will be moved in one direction to swing the Scrapers horizontally and when the current in the motor is reversed the slidable member 6i will be moved in the other direction and the horizontally swinging Scrapers will be moved in a direction opposite to their previous movement. The slidable member is adapted to be operated at intervals to provide an intermittent operation of the scrapers in their outward movement toward the side walls of the rotary centrifugal basket for cutting predetermined portions of the compacted material during each cutting operation of the Scrapers and when the direction of movement of the slidable members 6I is reversed the Scrapers are adapted to be moved inwardly periodically for enabling the material cut or shredded from the walls of the centrifugal basket to be completely discharged through the bottom openings thereof, as described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 759,302.

It has been found extremely difficult to gauge the exact amount of sludge with which the basket is filled at the end of the purging operation of its cycle and it has been found that a certain amount of water remains at the inner surface of the impacted material and it has been difficult to expel such liquid irrespective of the amount of the centrifuging This is primarily due to the fact that water is of a lighter specific gravity than the sludge and naturally recedes to the center. Compacted sludge after it builds up on the side walls of the rotary centrifugal basket and extends inwardly beyond the inner ends of the `seepage slots forms a definite barrier between the liquid and the seepage slots and will prevent the liquid from draining through it and passing through the seepage slots into the effluent discharge channels. In order to remove this barrier means are provided for breaking the adhesion between the impacted material and the lower face of the seepage plate and for forming an opening or passage for the flow of the liquid from the interior of the basket to the seepage slots, so that all of the liquid or eiiluent may be thoroughly drained from the centrifugal basket by the centrifuging and caused to be discharged through the eilluent discharge channels. To effect this result the machine is provided with a horizontally movable blade 8| of substantially oblong form having a flat upper face and provided at its outer portion with side and end cutting edges 82. The blade 8| is secured at its inner end by a screw 83 or other suitable fastening means to the lower end of a vertical shaft 84 extending through and mounted in a bearing opening 85 in 'the supporting member 3 as clearly illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

'I'he vertical shaft 84 extends through the central opening of the top plate of the rotary centrifugal basket and it is provided at a point above the basket with a fixed collar B8 and a shim 81 in the form of a ring is arranged on the shaft at the upper face of the xed collar 86 and is interposed between the same and the lower face of the supporting member 3 for positioning the blade 8| so that the latter will substantially wipe the lower face of the seepage plate when the shaft 84 is partially rotated for swinging the blade outwardly into operative cutting position from the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings. The horizontal sludge cutting blade 9| when swung outwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings substantially wipes the lower 10 face of the seepage plate without friction contact therewith and it is adapted to separate the impacted material from the seepage plate at the inner end portions of the seepage slots -to provide an open passage or space above the impacted material at the inner end portions of the seepage slots for enabling any liquid within the centrifu- 'gal basket to pass outwardly over the impacted material to the slots. When the horizontal blade 8| is moved to its outermost cutting position, illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the rotation of the centrifugal basket will cause the knife to break the adhesion between the irnpaoted material and the seepage plate at the said inner end portions of the slots and the blade 8| will cut or form an annular space or opening at the top of the impacted material through the rotation of the centrifugal basket and all of the liquid separated from the solids may be drained from the basket by the centrifuging operation.

A shim of the desired thickness may be provided for properly spacing the fixed collar 06 from the lower face of the supporting member 3 for maintaining the horizontal blade in proper position with relation to the seepage plate. The

upper end of the shaft 84 is provided with an operating arm 88 having a sleeve 89 arranged on the upper end of the shaft 84 and detachably secured to the same by a fastening device 90 or other suitable means. An upper shim 9| similar to the lower shim 81 is arranged on the shaft 84 and is interposed between the sleeve of the operating arm and the upper face of the supporting member for cooperating with the lower shimV in the proper positioning of the pivoted horizontally-movable sludge-cutting blade 8|. The arm 88 is connected by a link 92 with a. solenoid core 93 of a solenoid coil 94. The core 93 has its lnner end 95 bifurcated to receive one end of the link 92 which is pivotally connected to the said core 93 which operates as a plunger. The other end of the link 92 is enlarged and bifurcated to form a clevis 95 which receives the operating arm 88 and which is connected by a suitable pivot 96 with the same. The solenoid which controls the sludge cutting blade 8| is designed to be operated at the end portion of the period in which the purging operation takes place, so that 60 at the completion of the purging operation all of the liquid will be drained from the centrifugal basket and discharged from the same prior to the operation of the Scrapers for cleaning the centrifugal basket. g5 In the feeding of sewage or other material to be dewatered, it is essential to provide means which will eliminate clogging and control the quantity of the material fed to the machine and provide a definite means of determining the 7U. amount of material charged in the machine at any specific period of time. 'I'his is ei'lected by the measuring valve 33. which comprises in its tally-disposed cylindrical portion 91 and upper 75 and lower vertically-disposed tubularportions 90 and 99 flanged at their outer ends and bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacent sections of the feed pipe. ri'he horizontal intermediate cylindrical portion of the measuring valve casing is provided at its ends with circular heads |00 5 and |0| and it has mounted within it a rotary valve member |02 provided with radially-arranged blades |03 forming a plurality of pockets |04 adapted to carry the sewage or other material from the upper portion of the valve casing l0 to the lower portion of the same for measuring and regulating the feed of the material to the centrifugal separating machine. While four radially-disposed blades |03 are illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, the number of blades may. 15 of course, be varied and the discharge of the material at the lower portion of the measuring plate located at one side of the intermediate cy- 20 'I'he inner longitudinal edge of the hinged valve member |05 is free and is adapted to swing down- 25 Wardly from the position illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings to increase the size of the outlet at the bottom of the measuring valve. As shown in Figure 8 the hinged valve member is at the limit of its upward movement and it is adapted 30 member |05 may, of course. be of any desired size 35 to constrict the outlet to the desired extent when the hinged valve member is fully closed or at the limit of its upward movement.

and the latter is journalled at its ends in suitable bearings in the ends or heads |00 and |0| of the horizontal cylindrical portion of the casing of the measuring Valve. 45 |01 and the heads |00 and |0| are provided with central cylindrical extensions |08 and |09 which form bearings for the horizontal shaft |01.

Any suitable anti-friction bearings may be provided for the shaft of the rotary valve member of the measuring valve and a cam ||0 rotates with the rotary measuring valve and is synchronized with the pockets thereof so as to gradually increase the size of the outlet of the member is adapted to produce a steady fiow or feed of the material without clogging the feed responding in number to the number or the poclce5 valve and arranged to engage a crank arm ||2 connected with one end of the pintle |00 and provided with a roller I|3 which bears against the peripheral portion of the rotarycam ||0. The

adjustment.

against the action of the said spring. The opening movement of the hinged valve member increases the size of the outlet of the measuring valve and the closing movement of the hinged valve member reduces the size of the outlet of the measuring valve. The synchronized operation of the hinged valve member coacts with the rotary valve member of the measuring valve to produce a steady feed of the material to the basket without objectionable pulsations in me feeding operation and without liability of clogging the feed pipes.

The measuring valve is rotated by an electric motor IIS mounted on a movable motor support IIB consisting of an approximately sector-shaped plate tapered upwardly as clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings and pivoted at the top at its apex to a xed bracket ||1 by a bolt IIB or other suitable pivot. The motor shaft Il!) has detachably mounted on it a pinion which meshes with the spur gear wheel |2I which is fixed to the shaft |01 of the rotary valve member |02. The pinion |20 is removable to enable pinions of different diameters to be provided for i varying the gear ratio and the speed of the rotary valve member |02 and the amount of material fed tothe centrifugal separating machine. By increasing'the diameter of the pinion |20 the speed of the spur gear wheel and the rotary valve member |02 will be correspondingly increased and the amount of material fed to the centrifugal separating machine will be proportionately increased. The lower edge of the movable pivotally-mounted motor support is curved and provided with a pointer |22 which moves over a scale |23 which is calibrated on the fixed bracket ||1 for indicating the number of gallons per minute of the material fed to the separating machine. The movable motor support is provided adjacent its lower curved edge with an arcuate slot |24 through which passes a clamping screw |25 threaded into the xed bracket ||1 and having a head extending beyond the sides of the slot |24 for clamping the movable motor support in its An adjustment of the motor and the changing of gears effects a change in the speed of the shaft |01 and by varying the speed of the said shaft |01 the number of gallons of the sewage or other material fed into the machine will be varied and it will be apparent that the measuring valve mechanism may be set for feeding any predetermined number of gallons of material, within the capacity of the machine, to the rotary centrifug basket in a. minute of time or other period. The fixed bracket may be mounted in any desired manner and it will be clear that the measuring valve assembly may be readily removed from the machine as a unit.

What is claimed is: i

1. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a combined solids removing means and feeding unit comprising a hollow material feeding shaft extending into the basket and provided with an outlet arranged to deliver to the basket the material to be dewatered, and a device located within the basket and carried by the shaft and movable toward and from the side walls of the basket for removing dewatered solids impacted on the side walls of the basket.

2. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket and a combined cutting and feeding unit comprising a hollow shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to the same and provided with a discharge nozzle arranged to deliver to the basket the material to be dewatered, a scraper located within the basket and carried by the hollow shaft and movable toward and from the side walls of the basket and having means for cutting dewatered solids impacted on the side walls of the basket, and means for cleaning the basket shaft. Y

3. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket and a combined cutting and feeding unit comprising a hollow shaft extending into the basket for delivering material to be dewatered to the same and provided with a discharge nozzle extending in the direction of rotation of the basket, and a horizontally-swinging scraper carried by the hollow shaft and located within the basket.

4. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to be dewatered to the same, a swinging scraper located within the basket and carrier by the hollow shaft, and means for imparting rotative movement to the shaft for moving the scraper toward and from the side walls of the basket.

5. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket close to the bottom thereof for feeding material to the same, a relatively xed feed pipe connected with the upper end of the hollow shaft, a valve in the feed pipe for controlling the feed of material to the basket, a horizontally-swinging scraper having its operating edge of a length substantially the vertical dimension of the basket located within the basket and carried by the shaft, and means for imparting rotative movement to the shaft for moving the scraper toward and from the side walls of the basket.

6. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to be dewatered to the same, a horizontally-swinging scraper located within the centrifugal basket and carried by the said sha'ft and having a discharge nozzle connected with the lower end of the hollow shaft, and means for imparting rotative movement to the shaft for moving the scraper toward and from the side walls of the basket.

7. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced hollow vertical shafts extending into the basket at the top thereof for delivering to the basket the material to be dewatered, Scrapers located within the basket and carried by the said shafts, means for imparting rotative movement to the shafts for moving the scrapers toward and from the side walls of the basket, a stationary feed pipe having twin branches connected with the upper ends of the hollow shafts, a measuring valve in the feed pipe for controlling the feed of material to the basket, the feed pipe and the measuring valve being removable as a unit from the hollow shafts.

8. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a. vertical shaft on which the basket is mounted, a horizontally swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a relatively thin substantially arcuateshaped body and a rear inwardly extending member, the body being arranged substantially concentric with the side walls of the basket when the scraper is at the limit of its inward movement and occupying inoperative position and the rear member being arranged substantially radially of the side walls of the basket when the scraper is moved outwardly from its inner position to an operative position lo as to then place an edge of the rear 7;.

lil

a rotary centrifugal member adjacent said vertical shaft to remove sludge from the shaft.

9. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a horizontally-swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a relatively-thin substantially-arcuate body and a rear inwardly-extending member arranged to present an edge therof adjacent to the shaft of the asket in one position of the scraper to remove solids from the basket shaft, said body having a vertical front portion, and a vertical cutting blade secured to the front portion of the scraper.

l0. A centrifugal separating machine including basket having an opening in the bottom thereof, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a horizontally-swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a relativelythin substantially-arcuate body and also having a rear inwardly-extending member of a length substantially the same as the vertical dimension of the basket and having a longitudinal edge thereof arranged to engage said shaft in one position of the scraper, to remove sludge from the shaft, the body having a vertical front portion and sloping upwardly and inwardly in rear of the vertical front portion to cause the dewatered Ysolids removed from the walls of the basket to discharge through the bottom thereof, and cutting means carried by the front portion of the body of the scraper.

1l. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a horizontallyswinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a substantially-arcuate body having a forwardly-tapered vertical front portion forming an abrupt shoulder at the inner face of the scraper to cause a breakage of the material thereat when removing dewatered solids from the side Walls of the basket.

l2. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having imperforate side walls and seepage openings in its top, a horizontally-swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a relatively-thin substantially-arcuate body having a vertical front portion blade located at the top of the front portion of the scraper to remove the solids from adjacent the seepage openings.

13. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having imperforate side walls and provided with seepage means at its top, a horizontally-swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a relatively-thin substantially-arcuate body having a vertical front portion, and a horizontal cutting blade located at the top of the front portion of the scraper and provided with a front side cutting edge and an end cutting edge and adapted to cut the top of the dewatered solids impacted against the side walls adjacent the seepage means at the top of the basket.

14. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a scraper arranged within the basket and movable toward and from the side walls thereof and provided with a cutting blade having spaced cutting teeth arranged at intervals to form intervening spaces, said blade being provided at the spaces or intervals between the cutting teeth with cutting edges for preventing brous material from lodging between the cutting teeth.

15. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket. a scraper arranged within the basket and movable toward and from the side walls of the basket and provided with a substantially vertical blade having spaced cutting teeth arranged at intervals to provide intervening spaces, said blade being also provided at the said intervening spaces with cutting edges to prevent fibrous material from clogging the cutting teeth. and a horizontal blade mounted on the scraper at the upper end of the vertical blade and arranged to cut the top portion of dewatered material impacted against the side walls of the basket.

16. A centrifugal separating machine includswinging scrapers located within the basket and carried by the shafts and provided with cutting edges, and mechanism for moving the scrapers simultaneously toward and from the side walls of the basket including means for effecting a relative adjustment of the scrapers to position the cutting edges of the scrapers the same distance from the center of rotation of the basket to cause the cutting edges of the scrapers to cut at the same time whereby the cutting load will be equally distributed between the scrapers.

17. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided above the same with operating arms, horizontally-swinging scrapers located within the basket and carried by the shafts and provided with cutting edges, a slidable member, means for slidably, pivotally and acLiustably connecting the operating arms with the slidable member, means for actuating the slidable member to move the scrapers toward and from the side walls of the basket, the adjustment of the operating arms enabling the cutting edges of the scrapers to be arranged the same distance from the center of rotation of the basket to equally distribute the cutting load between the scrapers.

18. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms having pivots, horizontallymovable scrapers located within the basket and connected with the said shafts and provided with cutting edges, a slidable member provided with transverse guides, means for slidably and adjustably mounting the pivots in the guides of the slidable member, the adjustment of the pivots permitting a relative adjustment of the scrapers for positioning the cutting edges thereof the same distance from the center of rotation of the basket to distribute the cutting load equally between the scrapers, and means for actuating the slidable member to move the scrapers simultaneously toward and from the side walls of the basket.

19. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms having pivots, horizontallymovable scrapers located within the basket and connected with the said shafts and provided with cutting edges, a slidable member provided with transverse guides, blocks slidable in the guides of the said member and provided with bearings receiving the said pivots, means for adjusting the blocks laterally with respect to the guides for adjusting the pivots of the operating arms to position the cutting edges of the scrapers the same distance from the center of rotation of the basket to distribute the cutting load equally between the scrapers, and means for actuating the slidable member for simultaneously moving the scrapers toward and from the side walls of the basket.

20. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms having pivots, horizontallymovable Scrapers located within the basket and connected with the said shafts and provided with cuttingedges, a slidable member provided with transverse guides, blocks slidable in the guides ofthe said member and provided with bearings receiving the said pivots, Shims located at opposite sides of the blocks and adapted to be changed from one side to the other thereof for adjusting the blocks laterally with respect to the guides for adjusting the pivots of the operating arms to position the cutting edges of the scrapers the same distance from the center of rotation of the basket to distribute` the cutting load equally between the Scrapers, and means for actuating the slidable member for simultaneously moving the Scrapers toward and from the side walls of the basket.

2l. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms, horizontally-swinging Scrapers located within the basket and carried by the shafts. spaced guides, a slidable member connected with the operating arms and consisting of a screw having terminal portions slidable in the guides, means for slidably and pivotally connecting the operating arms with the slidable member, a worm wheel disposed substantially intermediate the ends of said slidable member having a central opening receiving the said screw and provided with threads for engaging the screw for sliding the said member when the worm wheel is rotated, and a motor actuated shaft having a worm meshing with the worm wheel at the periphery thereof for rotating the worm wheel.

22. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms, horizontally-swinging Scrapers located within the basket and carried by the shafts, spaced guides, a slidable member connected with the operating arms and consisting of a screw having terminal portions slidable in the guides, means for slidably and pivotally connecting the operating arms with the slidable member, a worm wheel mounted substantially intermediate the ends of said slidable member and having a central opening receiving the said screw and provided with threads for engaging the screw for sliding the said member when the Worm wheel is rotated, a motor, and a worm actuated by the motor and meshing with the periphery of the worm wheel for rotating the same to swing the scrapers toward and from the side walls of the basket.

23. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided vth operating arms, horizontally-swinging scrapers located within the basket and carried by the shafts, spaced guides, a slidable member connected with the operating arms and consisting of a screw having terminal portions slidable in the guides, means for slidably and pivotally connecting the operating arms with the slidable member, a worm wheel having a central opening receiving the said screw and provided with threads for engaging the screw for sliding the said member when the worm wheel is rotated, a motor, a Worm actuated by the motor and meshing with the periphery of the worm wheel for rotating the same to swing the Scrapers toward and from the side Walls of the basket, and a brake connected with the motor shaft and operable to prevent any lag in the motor for causing an increased movement in the Scrapers when the latter are operated in their inward and outward movements. f

24. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, spaced vertical shafts extending into the basket and provided with operating arms, horizontally-swinging Scrapers located within the basket and carried by the vertical shafts, spaced guides, a slidable member connected with the operating arms and consisting of a screw having terminal portions slidable in the said guides, a worm wheel having a central opening receiving the screw and provided wlth threads for engaging the same, a gear housing receiving the worm wheel, a horizontal shaft extending into the housing and having a worm engaging the worm wheel at the periphery thereof, a motor connected with the horizontal shaft, a brake located between the motor and the gear housing and operatively connected with the horizontal shaft, and means for operating the brake.

25. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having imperforate side walls and a horizontal top provided with seepage means, means for feeding material to the basket, means for rotating the basket to separate the liquids from the solids and discharge liquids through the seepage means and simultaneously build up a wall of solids against the side walls of the basket to a thickness which increases to a point extending inwardly beyond the seepage means, a substantially horizontally movable blade located within the basket, means for moving the blade to and from a position adjacent the seepage means for cutting away a portion of the solids wall at the top of the basket to maintain a passage leading from the interior of the basket through the wall of solids to the seepage means to permit complete drainage of liquid from the interior of the basket.

26. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a horizontal top provided with seepage openings, means for rotating the basket to build up a Wall of solids therein below the seepage openings. a substantially-horizontal blade pivoted at one end and provided at the other end with a cutting portion, and means for swinging the blade to and from a position adjacent the seepage openings for cutting dewatcred solids at the top of the basket to provide an opening or passage from the interior of the basket between the wall of solids and the seepage openings to permit complete drainage of liquid from the interior of the basket during rotation of the latter.

27. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a horizontal top provided with seepage openings, means for rotating the basket to build up a wall of solids therein, a substantially-horizontal blade having a flat upper face and pivoted at one end and beveled at its lower face at the other end to provide a cutting portion, and means for swinging the blade to and from a position adjacent the seepage openings for cutting away dewatered solids at the top of the basket to provide an opening or passage leading to the seepage openings for enabling liquid to drain completely from the interior of the basket while the latter rotates.

5 28. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a horizontal top provided with seepage openings, a vertical shaft extending into the basket, a substantially-horizontal blade carried by the shaft l0 and movable to and from a position adjacent the seepage openings for cutting away dewatered solids at the top of the basket to provide an opening or passage from the interior of the basket to the seepage openings to enable liquid to drain completely from the interior of the basket, and means connected with the upper portion of the vertical shaft for imparting rotative movement to the same for operating the said blade.

29. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a horizontal top provided with seepage openings, a vertical shaft extending into the basket, a substantially-horizontal blade carried by the shaft and movable to and from a position adjacent the seepage openings for cutting away dewatered solids at the top of the basket to provide an opening or passage from the interior of the basket to the seepage openings to enable liquid to drain completely from the interior of the basket, an operating arm connected with the upper end of the shaft, a solenoid, and means forconnecting the solenoid with the operating arm for swinging the said blade to and from the seepage openings.

30. In a centrifugal separating machine, a rotary centrifugal basket having lmperforate side walls and liquid discharge means at its top and having a discharge opening in its bottom, means to rotate the basket to separate the liquids from the solids for discharge of the liquids at the top of the basket and to build up a wall of solids on the imperforate side walls of the basket, a horizontally swinging scraper in the basket movable toward and away from the side walls of the basket for operation on the built up wall of solids to gradually work through the wall of solids to remove the latter gradually from the side walls 0f the basket for discharge through said discharge opening in the bottom of the basket, means operatively connected to the scraper for advancing the same toward and away from the side walls of the basket including mechanism for positively locking and holding the scraper against acceleration or deceleration in the direction of its travel incident to impact of the scraper with the wall of solids during operation of removal of the wall of solids from the basket, a motor operatively connected with the scraper operating means to actuate the latter, and a brake connected with the shaft of said motor and operable to prevent any lag in the motor for causing an increased movement of the scraper when the latter is operated in its inward and outward movements.

3l. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, horizontally swinging Scrapers located in the basket, a sliding member operatively connected to the scrapers for moving the latter inwardly and outwardly in the basket, adjusting means located in said operative connections between the Scrapers and said slidable member for adjusting the positions of the Scrapers relative to each other to distribute the working load equally between the scrapers, and means for actuating the slidable member to move the scrapers inwardly and out- Wardly.

32. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, horizontally swinging Scrapers located in the basket, a sliding member operatively connected to the scrapers for moving the latter inwardly and outwardly in the basket, adjusting means located in said operative connections between the Scrapers and said slidable member for adjusting the positions of the Scrapers relative to each other to distribute the working load equally between the Scrapers, means for actuating the slidable member to move the Scrapers inwardly and outwardly, and a brake located in the operative connections between said actuating means and the slidable member.

33. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a vertical shaft carrying the basket and extending through the same. and a combined cutting and feeding unit comprising a hollow material feeding shaft extending into the basket and provided with an outlet arranged to deliver to the basket the material to be dewatered, a scraper located within the basket and carried by the shaft and movable toward and from the side walls of the basket for removing dewatered solids impacted on the side walls of the basket and provided also with means for removing solids adhering to the vertical shaft of the rotary centrifugal basket.

34. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a vertical shaft carrying the basket and extending through the same, and a combined cutting and feeding unit comprising a hollow material feeding shaft extending into the basket and provided with an outlet arranged to deliver to the basket the material to be dewatered, a scraper located within the basket and carried by the shaft and movable toward and from the side Walls of the basket for removing dewatered solids impacted on the side walls of the basket and provided also with means movable toward and from the shaft of the basket simultaneously with the movement of the scraper toward and from the walls of the basket for scraping from the shaft solids adhering to the same.

35. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a combined cutting and feeding unit comprising a hollow shaft extending into the basket for delivering material to be dewatered to the same and provided with a discharge nozzle arranged to swing horizontally toward and from a discharging position and a horizontally-swinging scraper located within the basket and movable toward and from the walls thereof, said scraper and nozzle being movable about a common center.

36. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow feed shaft extending into the basket and provided with a discharge nozzle for delivering to the basket the material to be dewatered, and a horizontallyswinging scraper carried by the hollow shaft and located within the basket and movable toward and from the walls of the basket, the feed pipe and the scraper constituting a single combined cutting and feeding unit.

3'7. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a plurality of combined cutting and feeding units operating within the centrifugal basket and each unit comprising a hollow shaft provided with an inclined flattened discharge nozzle for delivering material to the basket, said nozzles being adapted to swing to and from a discharging position and a swinging scraper carried by the hollow shaft and arranged to swing toward and from the side walls of the basket, the scraper and the nozzle being movable about a common center.

38. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to the same, a horizontally-swinging scraper located within the basket and carried by the said shaft and provided with a discharge nozzle connected with the lower end of the shaft, said nozzle being extended to the interior of the scraper and arranged to be carried to and from a discharging position by the horizontal swinging movement of the scraper, said scraper and nozzle being movable about a common center.

39. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to the same, a stationary feed pipe connected with the upper end of the hollow shaft, a horizontally-swinging scraper located within the centrifugal basket and provided with a tubular hub portion fixed to the lower portion of the said shaft and provided with a discharge nozzle connected With the lower end of the shaft and extending therefrom to the exterior of the scraper at the front face thereof and carried by the said scraper to and from a discharging position, and means for imparting rotative movement to the vertical shaft for moving the scraper toward and from the side walls of the basket.

40. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to the same, a horizontally-swinging scraper located within the centrifugal basket and provided with a tubular hub portion xed to the lower portion of the tubular shaft and provided with a discharge nozzle connected with the lower end of the hollow shaft and extending laterally therefrom to the exterior of the scraper at the front face thereof, and means for imparting rotative movement to the vertical shaft for moving the scraper toward and from the side walls of the basket and for simultaneously moving the nozzle to and from a discharging position, the nozzle being moved inwardly as the cutting portion of the scraper is moved outwardly and the said nozzle being carried outwardly as the cutting portion of the scraper is moved inwardly.

41. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a vertical shaft extending through and carrying the basket, and a horizontally-movable scraper operating within the basket and provided at one end with means for removing dewatered solids from the walls of the basket and having at the other end means for scraping from the vertical shaft solid material adhering thereto.

42. A centrifugal separating machine includ- 4 ing a rotary centrifugal basket, a vertical shaft 05 extending through the basket and carrying the same, a horizontally-swinging scraper operating within the basket and consisting of a body provided at the front with cutting means for removing dewatered sludge from the walls of the basket. said body being provided at the back with a rear wall extending inwardly from the body and cooperating with the body to form a hollow scraper and including means for scraping from the shaft solid material adhering thereto, the 15 axis of the scraper being located between the front cutting means and the rear wall, whereby when the scraper swings outwardly toward the walls of the basket the rear wall will be carried inwardly toward the vertical shaft of the basket to scrape therefrom solid material adhering thereto.

43. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket provided at the bottom with a hub, a central vertical shaft extending through the basket and having the hub thereof mounted on it, an upper bearing for the shaft located within the basket', and a horizontally-swinging scraper comprising a body provided at the front with cutting means and having a rear inwardly-extending wall provided with a terminal portion conforming to the configuration of the vertical shaft, the hub and the upper bearing to scrape therefrom solid material adhering thereto when the said rear wall is carried into close proximity to the vertical shaft by the horizontal swinging movement of the scraper.

44. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket provided in its bottom with radially-arranged approximately sectorshaped openings for the discharge of dewatered sludge, the basket having imperforate side walls, and a horizontally-swinging scraper pivotally mounted within the basket and arranged to swing outwardly and inwardly toward and from the side walls of the basket, said scraper consisting of a body having a front cutting portion provided with inner and outer sets of spaced sharp edge portions, said front cutting portion being arranged substantially concentric with the side walls of the basket when the scraper is at the limit of its outward movement whereby the rotating basket is adapted to clean the cutting means of material which may have become entwined about the same.

45. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket provided in its bottom with radially arranged approximately sector-shaped openings having outer arcuate walls and varranged for the discharge of dewatered sludge, and a horizontally swinging scraper pivotally mounted within the basket and arranged to swing outwardly and inwardly toward and from the side walls of the basket, said scraper comprising a relatively thin curved body of a contour substantially coinciding with the outer arcuate walls of the said openings in the bottom of the basket when the scraper is at the limit of its inner movement, said scraper being provided with sets of cutting elements arranged one set slightly in advance of the other set and with the cutting edges of one set of cutting elements being arranged alternately with relation to the cutting edges of the other set of cutting elements, the front portion of the scraper being arranged substantially concentric with the side walls of the basket when the scraper is at the limit of its outward movement whereby the rotating basket is adapted to remove from the cutting elements such material as may have be- -come entwined about the same.

`46. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a hollow rotatable open-ended vertical shaft extending into the basket for feeding material to the basket, astationary feed pipe telescoping with the upper end of said stationary hollow shaft and communieating therewith to form an effective rotatable movement of the rotatable hollow shaft with relation to the stationary feed pipe. a horizontallyswinging scraper located within the basket and carried by said hollow shaft, and means for imparting rotative movement to the hollow rotatable shaft for moving the scraper inwardly and outwardly with relation to the side Walls of the basket without disturbing the communicating rotatable connection between the hollow shaft and the feed pipe.

47. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket provided with an annular plate at the top thereof having seepage openings therein and also having a discharge opening ln its bottom, a horizontally-swinging scraper arranged within the basket having a substantially vertical front portion to remove dewatered solids from the side walls of the basket, and a horizontal cutting blade mounted independently of the scraper to scrape the inner face cf said annular plate to remove solids from the under side of the annular plate at the inner ends of the seepage openings and permit the removed solids to fall by gravity on the bottom of the basket for removal through said bottom discharge opening.

48. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a horizontallyswinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a body which is thickened at its vertical front portion to form an abrupt shoulder at the inner face of the scraper with the thickened portion forwardly tapered, and a blade mounted on the forwardly tapered thickened portion at the vertical front portion of the scraper and coacting with said abrupt shoulder to cause r a breakage of the material thereat when removing dewatered solids from the side walls of the basket.

49. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a horizontallyswinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a body which is thickened at its vertical front portion to form an abrupt shoulder at the inner face of the scraper with the thickened portion forwardly tapered, and a blade mounted on the forwardly tapered thickened portion at the vertical front portion of the scraper and coacting with said abrupt shoulder to cause a breakage of the material thereat when removing dcwatered solids from the side walls of the basket, said scraper being provided with sets of cutting elements arranged one set slightly in advance of the other set and with the cutting edges of one set of cutting elements being arranged alternately with relation to the cutting edges of the other set of cutting elements.

50. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket provided at its top with an annular plate having seepage openings therein leading from the interior of the basket, the basket having a discharge opening in its bottom, means for rotating the basket at high and low speeds and while operating at high speed discharging liquids from the basket through the seepage openings and building up a wall of solids against the side walls of the basket, means for removing the built-up wall of solids from the basket while the latter is rotating at low speed and discharging same through the discharge opening in the bottom of the basket, and means operable during high speed operation to ,act upon the top of the built-up wall of solids'adjacent the seepage openings to provide a passage for liquidsfrom the interior of the basket to and through the wall of solids to the seepage openings for enabling liquids to drain substantially completely from the interior of the basket during said high speed operation and prior to operation of the solids removing means.

51. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a bottom opening spaced from the side walls of the basket, a hollow open-ended rotatable shaft extending into the basket for the feed of material to the basket to be dewatered during rotation of the basket, a scraper having a hub embracing a portion of the hollow shaft and secured thereto and having a laterally directed hollow portion cornmunicating with said hollow shaft to receive material fed to it through said hollow shaft and discharge the material at the bottom of the basket between the side walls of the basket and said bottom opening, means for rotating the hollow shaft and the scraper to swing the scraper towards the side walls of the basket to remove the dewatered solids from the side walls of the basket and discharge same through said bottom opening and simultaneously position the laterally directed hollow portion of the scraper hub from normal feeding position to a position nearer the center of the basket to prevent material clogging the cutlet of said laterally directed portion during removal of the dewatered solids from the basket.

52. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket having a bottom opening spaced from the side walls of the basket, a combined rotatable hollow shaft for feeding materials to the basket and a scraper to remove solids from the basket, the scraper having a hollow portion communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft and at its outer end normally opening outwardly between the bottom opening of the basket and the side walls thereof to deliver the material between the bottom opening and the side walls of the basket, and means for rotating the shaft to simultaneously swing the scraper into operative position to remove the solids from the basket and position the outwardly opening end of said scraper hollow portion nearer the axis of rotation of the basket than it is when in feeding position so as to prevent clogging of same during removal of the solids from the basket through the bottom opening of the latter.

53. Means for separating sludge materials including a rotary centrifugal basket having seepage means around the top thereof and having an imperforate side wall, the seepage means having communication with the interior of the basket, means for rotating the basket to separate liquids 'from solids and discharge separated liquids through said seepage means and build up a wall of solids against the imperforate side walls of the basket increasing in thickness inwardly beyond the inner side of the seepage means and at the top in engagement with the inner face of the top of the basket, and means within the basket for attacking the top of the wall of solids to provide a passage through the wall of solids between the seepage means and the interior surface of the wall of solids to prevent closing of the communication between the interior of the basket and the seepage means during the separating operation.

54. Means for separating sludge material including a rotary centrifugal basket having seepage openings therein, means for rotating the basket to separate liquids from solids and discharge liquids through the seepage openings and simultaneously build up a wall of solids in the basket until the wall of solids extends over the seepage means and closes the same, and means for then attacking the wall of solids at the seepage means to break away a portion of the wall of solids to establish and maintain a passage through the wall of solids to the seepage means to thereby permit discharge of liquids from the basket without hindrance from the wall of solids.

55. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a movable scraper confined within the basket of a width to extend from the periphery of the basket to said shaft and operable for movement to different positions laterally in the basket between the side wall thereof and said shaft and in one position to simultaneously clean sludge from the side wall of the basket and extending from the side wall of the basket to said shaft to clean sludge from the shaft on which the basket is mounted, and means for moving the scraper to operative and inoperative positions within the basket.

56. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a horizontally swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a body having a forwardly tapered front portion provided with an abrupt shoulder and a blade mounted on the tapered front portion of the scraper and coacting with the body portion of the scraper, said abrupt shoulder causing a breakage of the material thereat when removing dewatered solids from the side Wall of the basket. said scraper being provided with separate sets of spaced cutting elements beveled respectively at the outer and inner faces of the scraper. one of the sets of cutting elements projecting in advance of the other set and the latter set being arranged between the projecting cutting elements of the other set.

57. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a. scraper mounted within the basket between the side wall of the baskct and the basket shaft and movable to a position adjacent the side wall of the basket for cleaning the side wall of the basket and provided with means extending from the scraper and movable to a position adjacent the shaft as the scraper moves toward the side Wall of the basket for coaction with the shaft to remove material adhering to the shaft from the same as the scraper cleans the side walls of the basket.

58. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, and mechanism confined within the basket including an element movable toward and away from the basket shaft for removing from the shaft substances adhering thereto.

59. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket. means for mounting the basket, means mounted independently of the basket mounting means and located in the basket for movement toward and away from the basket mounting means to remove from the basket mounting means substances adhering thereto.

JOSEPH S. PECKER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,078,273.

of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

April 2'?. 1937.

JOSEPH S. PECKER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification Page 2,

first column, line 40, for "swing" read swinging; page 5. first column, line 43, for "worm" read screw and line 44, for "screw" read worm; page 7, second column, line 20, claim 4, for "carrier" read carried; and page 9, second column. line 9, claim 25, for "in" read of; and that the Said Letters Patent should ne read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June. A. D. 1957.

(Beal) Henry Van Aredaie Acting Commissioner of Patents.

for then attacking the wall of solids at the seepage means to break away a portion of the wall of solids to establish and maintain a passage through the wall of solids to the seepage means to thereby permit discharge of liquids from the basket without hindrance from the wall of solids.

55. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a movable scraper confined within the basket of a width to extend from the periphery of the basket to said shaft and operable for movement to different positions laterally in the basket between the side wall thereof and said shaft and in one position to simultaneously clean sludge from the side wall of the basket and extending from the side wall of the basket to said shaft to clean sludge from the shaft on which the basket is mounted, and means for moving the scraper to operative and inoperative positions within the basket.

56. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, and a horizontally swinging scraper arranged within the basket and comprising a body having a forwardly tapered front portion provided with an abrupt shoulder and a blade mounted on the tapered front portion of the scraper and coacting with the body portion of the scraper, said abrupt shoulder causing a breakage of the material thereat when removing dewatered solids from the side Wall of the basket. said scraper being provided with separate sets of spaced cutting elements beveled respectively at the outer and inner faces of the scraper. one of the sets of cutting elements projecting in advance of the other set and the latter set being arranged between the projecting cutting elements of the other set.

57. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a. scraper mounted within the basket between the side wall of the baskct and the basket shaft and movable to a position adjacent the side wall of the basket for cleaning the side wall of the basket and provided with means extending from the scraper and movable to a position adjacent the shaft as the scraper moves toward the side Wall of the basket for coaction with the shaft to remove material adhering to the shaft from the same as the scraper cleans the side walls of the basket.

58. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, and mechanism confined within the basket including an element movable toward and away from the basket shaft for removing from the shaft substances adhering thereto.

59. A centrifugal separating machine including a rotary centrifugal basket. means for mounting the basket, means mounted independently of the basket mounting means and located in the basket for movement toward and away from the basket mounting means to remove from the basket mounting means substances adhering thereto.

JOSEPH S. PECKER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,078,273.

of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

April 2'?. 1937.

JOSEPH S. PECKER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification Page 2,

first column, line 40, for "swing" read swinging; page 5. first column, line 43, for "worm" read screw and line 44, for "screw" read worm; page 7, second column, line 20, claim 4, for "carrier" read carried; and page 9, second column. line 9, claim 25, for "in" read of; and that the Said Letters Patent should ne read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June. A. D. 1957.

(Beal) Henry Van Aredaie Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

